Mazda Great Lakes Alumni

(Updated Sunday, February 18, 2007 05:27 PM)

 

Additions or corrections? Please send a note to: Doug Wenzel

December 2006 News   

  • Gordon Mast has spent nearly 30 days in Blodgett Hospital!  What was supposed to be simple outpatient surgery turned into a serious hospital stay.  It looks like he's nearly ready to go home this week and I'm sure he would love to hear from you! 
  • Ted Andriese has gone and gotten himself hitched!  Ted and Marilyn Rottschafer were wed on October 22, and now make their home in Spring Lake.  Congratulations Ted and Marilyn!
  • Holly McGavin, Controller at Betten Imports, has what sounds like a great part-time job opportunity available!  If interested, see below..
    Job Opportunity
    Betten Imports Cashier/Receptionist: This position provides support to the operating departments; Performs light filing, cashiering and general office duties; Operates a multi-line telephone system and tracks caller activity.  Knowledge of Microsoft Excel is a plus.  The Hours are Tuesday and Friday from 9am to 6pm and alternating Saturdays from 10am to 4pm.  The position pays $8.50 per hour.    If interested email or call Holly McGavin at Hmcgavin@bettenimports.com or 616-475-9503.
  • Judy Kidder & her husband Gary have moved to a year round home on Payne Lake. They have their cottage on Payne Lake and their home in Caledonia for sale. Their new address is: 11803 Lakeridge Drive, Wayland, MI 49348. New phone number is 269.795.9953. She wishes Happy Holidays to everyone.
  • Hal Paulsen is recovering very nicely from his second knee replacement. He's taking antibiotics to prevent infection. He's back on email and would love to hear from his Mazda friends!

November 2006 News   

  • On Friday night November 10, 20 or so MGL alumni met at the Cantina in Grand Rapids to celebrate making it nearly 7 years since we all worked together!

October 2006 News   

  • Slow news month... 

September 2006 News   

  • Jason Miles (Holly McGavin's husband) will be performing a 9/11 Tribute/Fundraiser Concert in order to raise funds for the Twin Towers Orphan Fund. They provide physical and mental health care as well as eduction funds for children (and babies) who have lost one or both parents in the 9/11 attacks. This also includes children of the Pentagon attack and the children from passengers of Flight 93. The concert will be on Monday, 9/11 and start at 6:30pm with Mayor Carol Sheets' introduction of Jason.  Jason will perform "United We Stand" along with his new Nashville songs currently gaining airplay across the State, including the current B-93 song "Wouldn't Want To Be Her Man Tonight". Jason is featured in the Sunday September 10 Entertainment section of The Grand Rapids Press. He is pictured on the front page of the Entertainment section and information on the Tribute Concert is on Page F13 of the same section. Jason will also be featured on WMUS's morning show on 9/11 somewhere between the 7am and 9am hours. They will interview Jason and play "United We Stand".  B-93 (93.7) will be announcing this concert on Monday 9/11 as well. 

August 2006 News   

  • Ted Andriese has a new e-mail address:  rtand@charter.net
  • Dave Seeber's new e-mail address at work is dseeber@theequitynetwork.com
  • Ted Andriese has moved from Grand Rapids to Spring Lake -- 18167 Lost Creek Lane, Spring Lake, MI 49456.
  • Bob Hahn's new e-mail address is bobhahn1@sbcglobal.net
  • Chuck Fallos has retired from Mazda!  Early last year Chuck set the date… Judy in April & Chuck this month.  Chuck is now spending more time fishing, flying, & traveling.  Check out the picture of Chuck and Judy along with Jim and Nancy (Schneider) while they were all on the Field Manager of the year trip to Montage Resort & Catalina Island this June.  Chuck's e-mail address at Mazda is now down so make sure you use his cjfallos@mtc.net address.

July 2006 News   

  • Bill Doelfs sent in an update... his e-mail address is now wdoelfs@columbus.rr.com and his cell number is (614) 325-6498.  He has been working at an extended warranty company in Columbus, and has just been promoted to a claims supervisor position. They administer contracts for thousands of dealers across the country with many in MI.

June 2006 News   

  • On Saturday June 10, at the age of 80, Barb Taggart's Dad (Mr. Harold J. Piccard Sr.) of Grand Rapids, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family.  Please drop Barb a note and let her know you're thinking of her and her family during this time.
  • Jo Burnham visited Michigan recently, and met with several alumni at The Kirby House in Grand Haven for dinner on June 8th for a little reunion. Andi Dekker, Sue Worsley, Jean Kelleher, George and Julie Horton, Winnie Wulbrecht, Gail Kober, Judy Kidder and Judi Rabbai all shared the fun evening rehashing MGL memories, and shared many laughs.  You can check out the picture they took on the Pictures page.

May 2006 News   

  • Mary Kay Walsh has updated the Where are they now? page with her new information after moving to the Chicago area to take over the Southern Chicago district for Hyundai.
  • Click on the link to see the article from The Grand Rapids Press on the buildings in Grand Rapids named for Peter and Pat Cook.
  • Erv Lichterman's mom, Caroline Lichterman, passed away on May 11. She was 96 and was buried in Manitowoc, WI on May 15th. She was 96 years old. A broken hip started the trouble several weeks before.  Please keep Erv and his family in your thoughts and prayers as they grieve their loss.
  • The next Retiree Luncheon will be at Brann's on Leonard at noon on August 1. 
  • Peter Cook celebrated his 92nd birthday on Tuesday, May 9th. He's still at the office every day and continues to be a mover and shaker! No one can keep up with him. If anyone wants to send him a card, do so at the office: Cook Holdings 618 Kenmoor S E. Grand Rapids, MI 49546. 

April 2006 News   

  • Hal Paulsen had knee replacement surgery on February 28. He developed a staph infection, and it did not clear up. On April 23, he was readmitted to the hospital with a blood clot behind the knee. On April 27, the titanium knee was removed and an infection was found in that area as well as his stomach. He's going to be in assisted living for the next 6-8 weeks. The doctors will put the new knee back in after all infection has been clear for at least a month.  Hal is taking this all in stride and trying to keep his spirits up. Pray for Hal and Judy as they deal with this difficult situation. He's not on his computer so please don't send emails. Cards and notes would be appreciated.
  • Peter and Pat Cook received the Community Service Award on April 20, at the National Kidney Foundation’s Twelfth Annual Galaxy Awards Tribute Dinner. Congratulations Peter and Pat!
  • Doug Dykstra has taken a new job working for a company called "SoundOff Signal" in Hudsonville as an Electronic Technician.   Their website is WWW.SOUNDOFFSIGNAL.COM
  • Some of you may remember Neal Berson, long-time MNAO employee, most recently a Regional General Manager.  Neal passed away the evening of April 10th from a brain tumor, with which he was diagnosed only a couple of weeks ago. Neal was extremely dedicated to Mazda; his career there spanned more than 20 years.

March 2006 News   

  • Don Jones' phone number has been changed to (616) 997-6671.
  • Mary Kay Walsh, Chuck Fallos, Bob Hahn, Jim Dergance and Jim Schneider had their own little "La Cantina" type gathering on the other side of the lake on March 1.  Check out the group picture on the Pictures page.
  • Ron Rathlein has updated his contact information on the Where are they now?  page.

February 2006 News   

  • Gail Kober has a new e-mail address: johnkober@sbcglobal.net
  • Gerry Huissen, aged 74, of Grand Rapids, died Sunday February 26, 2006. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, June.  Gerry was a VW, Interwheel and Mazda parts/accessory guru who last worked for Bruce Brown with Mazda.
  • The old Woodland International Truck group has gone through another change in name.  They are now Western Michigan International Trucks, LLC dba Wieland International.  E-mail addresses for Ted and George have also changed.  They are now tseil@wielandtrucks.com  and ghorton@wielandtrucks.com
  • Ted Andriese has a new e-mail address.  RTAnd@comcast.net
  • A few weeks ago Bette Nowicki rushed her husband Dick to St. Mary’s Hospital after finding him unconscious in their home.  He had stayed at the Hospital until just recently when he was transferred to Spectrum Health Continuing Care on 44th Street.  Apparently, Dick has suffered some long-term damage as a result.  While all of this was going on, Bette fell off of her porch and when she went in to be checked out, they found a problem with her appendix! She is currently at St. Mary’s Hospital.  Bette's life has changed dramatically within just a few weeks and I'm sure she would appreciate a card expressing support.
  • Bob Riggs, age 76, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, February 14, 2006. In the midst of his family's sadness he brought joy to the lives of another family as a donor to the Gift of Life. Bob is survived by his wife of 51 years, Joan.  I'm sure Joan would appreciate a notes or card from his former co-workers.  Her address is 2202 Hall SE East Grand Rapids, MI 49506.  In lieu of flowers memorial contributions are suggested to the Gift of Life, 2203 Platt Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48104. 
  • Jean Kelleher's only sibling, her brother, died suddenly in late January in Boston, MS.  I'm sure Jean would appreciate your expression of support.  Her address is 5436 Londonderry Drive SE Kentwood, MI 49508.
  • Becky Decker is now with Information Managers & Associates.  Her e-mail address is bdecker@iminformation.com
  • Connie Ellinger has a new e-mail address: receret@aol.com
  • Don't forget this week's MGL Get-Together! We're meeting Friday February 10, 6pm at La Cantina on the corner of 28th St. and East Paris.

January 2006 News   

  • Doug Dykstra and 200 other people working for CSC (the IT Outsourcing company for Foremost/Farmers account nationwide) lost their jobs Friday. Seventy five percent of the IT work at Foremost/Farmers is now done off shore.  Doug Dykstra is actively looking for employment so if you know of a company looking for IT people, please pass the word along to Doug.  His personal e-mail address is dcdykstra@worldnet.att.net
  • Bette Nowicki has changed her e-mail address!  It is now rnowicki3648@esagelink.com
  • Happy New Year! Can you believe it's been nearly 5 years since our team went their separate ways?
  • Judi Rabbai's new email address is judirabbai@aol.com
  • Jean Hibbard is in charge of marketing for WMU in Grand Rapids and has put together a Women's' Day Event for Jan.21 called "Renew You". It will be held at the East Beltline Campus with free parking. There will be four classes plus lunch and the cost for this all day event (9:30am-3:30pm) is only $45!! The program will consist of a Yoga class, a lecture on "decluttering" your life, Beauty Makeovers by the Leslie Studio and a Floral Design class by Andicott Floral. Space is limited; pre-registration is required. Call Jean at 742-5027 to register. There was an ad and an editorial in the Jan.4 ADVANCE Newspaper (EAST edition- including EGR, Forest Hills, Cascade, Ada, etc.)  Bring a friend, a daughter, a co-worker. Enjoy all four sessions as well as lunch by The Catering Company for only $45. Comfortable work-out clothes and a towel or mat are encouraged.
  • Anyone up for an MGL Get-Together? The tentative date is Friday February 10, 6pm at La Cantina on the corner of 28th St. and East Paris.  Let me know if the date works for you!

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